Originally published Sunday, May 3, 2026, in Maariv Business Magazine, as a three-page print feature and online.
Long waiting times and fear of consequences have caused thousands of soldiers returning from combat to avoid seeking treatment. A new clinic provides a model successfully implemented among U.S. military personnel: “The civilian framework enables discreet support”
More than two decades after the September 11 attacks, the lessons learned in the United States continue to shape innovative models for treating trauma victims. Now, for the first time, these models are making their way into Israel’s civilian sphere: soldiers, security personnel, and their families coping with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) will receive treatment based on a proven American model developed in the aftermath of that disaster and successfully applied among U.S. service members.
As part of a collaboration between Sheba Medical Center, the Cohen Veterans Network (CVN), and the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF), a dedicated clinic has opened in Modiin. It will provide advanced mental health care, free of charge to those eligible through the Ministry of Defense. The clinic operates in a civilian, discreet setting, aiming to increase treatment uptake, reduce stigma, and provide long-term support. The initiative is already underway, with another clinic planned in northern Israel in the near future—the first step toward broader nationwide deployment.
At the core of the model is a simple yet transformative concept: military trauma is not solely an individual issue but a broader family challenge. Accordingly, the focus extends beyond combat soldiers to include their spouses and children, who bear the quieter consequences of war within the home.
“September 11 exposed a fundamental gap in how the United States supports the long-term mental health needs of veterans and their families,” says Dr. Anthony Hassan, President and CEO of CVN. According to him, one of the key lessons was that “the psychological impact of war and trauma extends beyond the service member and deeply affects families and wider support systems.”
He emphasizes that delays in treatment carry a heavy price. “When treatment is postponed until symptoms worsen, outcomes deteriorate, care becomes more complex, and risks such as addiction and suicide increase,” he explains. These lessons—drawn from decades of military conflicts from Vietnam to Iraq and Afghanistan—form the basis of the model now being implemented in Israel.
Unlike traditional military frameworks, which typically operate within bases and focus on active-duty personnel, the CVN model provides civilian, community-based, and accessible care. “Our holistic approach recognizes the family as a critical component in the recovery process, not a secondary factor,” Hassan explains. “Treating family members reduces stigma and frames seeking help as a resource for strengthening the family rather than a personal failure.”
The advantage of treatment outside the military system is not merely symbolic. Studies show that help-seeking rates are lower in military settings, partly due to concerns about security clearance, weapon access, and career implications. Civilian care, by contrast, enhances trust and confidentiality and encourages earlier intervention. “The American experience teaches a clear and painful lesson: prolonged waiting for treatment leads to devastating consequences,” Hassan says. When veterans suffer in silence, the impact can persist across generations. “Our mission is to ensure care is available while problems are still manageable—not only after a crisis erupts.”
With the opening of the center in Modiin and plans to expand northward, Israel now has an opportunity to implement a proven international model and adapt it to local realities. The question is not only how many people will be treated, but whether Israeli society will know how to listen in time.
Bypassing Bureaucracy
The connection between the American trauma treatment model and Israeli reality is no coincidence. It emerged from urgent needs on the ground and from FIDF’s long-standing experience supporting soldiers and their families. Leading the initiative is former Central Command Chief Maj. Gen. (res.) Nadav Padan, now CEO of the organization, who is deeply familiar with both the military system and its challenges.
“FIDF was established in the United States in 1982 by five Holocaust survivor families under the slogan ‘Never Again,’” Padan explains. “Initially, the founders wanted to support the IDF directly, but U.S. law did not allow direct assistance to a foreign military. So the organization focused on the welfare of service members. What began as a small initiative has become a central body known as the Friends of the IDF.”
According to him, the close relationship with the IDF has been maintained over the years. “Early CEOs were senior IDF officers sent to the U.S. on missions. Even today, leadership comes from those who have served decades in the military. I myself served 37 years, most recently commanding Central Command. That experience allows us to deeply understand service members’ needs and the system’s challenges.”
Asked about the added value of a civilian organization operating alongside the military, Padan says:
“We are a civilian Zionist organization that supports service members throughout their journey—before, during, and after service. Our activities include education, welfare, promoting social mobility, and strengthening ties between Israeli society and the IDF, as well as between the American Jewish community and Israel.”
The organization runs numerous social programs, including initiatives to train young people from peripheral areas in high-tech and cybersecurity, encourage meaningful service, and promote equal opportunity. “Service in technological units opens doors to the high-tech world and serves as a major engine for social mobility. There is hardly a stronger social accelerator.”
Beyond that, the organization also bridges systemic gaps. “We don’t change Israel’s budgetary reality; we help improve how things are done,” Padan clarifies. “As a civilian body, we can bypass bureaucratic barriers and provide rapid responses where the system struggles to act in time.”
Immediate First Aid
The need for rapid response has become especially acute in mental health care, particularly in treating PTSD. According to Padan, the decision to act stemmed from urgency: “We saw thousands of soldiers returning from combat while the system was still formulating mechanisms. It takes time for the state to establish frameworks—and rightly so—but in the meantime, people need care.”
This led to the collaboration with Sheba Medical Center and CVN. “We surveyed hospitals across Israel and chose Sheba due to its scale of expertise and clinical capabilities,” Padan says. “This is a significant step, even if it does not meet the entire need.”
Does Israel have sufficient infrastructure to להתמודד with PTSD? “I don’t think so. The main bottleneck is the shortage of professionals. Even before the war, the Ministry of Defense was treating about 8,000 IDF veterans suffering from PTSD. The real challenge is not just current numbers, but the expected increase. We are dealing with ongoing trauma, and its scope is far from fixed.”
Padan notes that trauma can emerge years later: “Sometimes there are no early signs until a trigger—a noise, stress, or personal event—brings the memory to the surface. That’s why numbers may grow significantly.”
A key strategic decision underpins the initiative: investing in human capital rather than infrastructure. “We didn’t spend a single shekel on buildings,” he confirms. “We invested in training therapists and developing PTSD treatment programs.”
The program includes not only doctors and psychologists but also a broader support network. “We train medical teams alongside support personnel who provide accessible human assistance. At the system’s edge, there is also a 24/7 hotline that offers rapid initial response and directs people to the appropriate professional.”
This approach enables immediate care and reduces the risk of deterioration. “Like a frontline emergency center that provides first response and connects people to the right treatment,” Padan says.
One of the major issues in Israel’s mental health system is long waiting times. “The war dramatically increased demand, and waiting times grew accordingly. When we started, people waited weeks to see a psychiatrist or psychologist. Today, in the system we built with Sheba, patients meet a professional within 48 hours. That sets a new standard.”
Additional clinics have also been established nationwide in Beit Halochem centers, expanding accessibility and providing care close to home.
High Chances of Recovery
The partnership with CVN—founded by philanthropist Steven Cohen—brings decades of accumulated experience. The organization operates a network of clinics in the U.S. serving military personnel and their families.
“This partnership is not just about funding—it’s about knowledge,” Padan explains. “Together with CVN and Sheba, we created a shared data environment that enables mutual learning and the implementation of extensive American experience.”
The first clinic in Modiin is already providing treatment to soldiers and their families, with additional clinics planned in the north and later in the south.
“The need in Israel is enormous,” Padan says. “The earlier we act, the more we can reduce PTSD rates. Identification begins during military service, through processing experiences after operational activity. Just as operational lessons are learned, mental processing is also conducted.”
Data underscores the importance of early intervention: “Most people recover, but a small percentage will need long-term care. The earlier the intervention, the greater the chance of preventing PTSD.”
Does civilian treatment increase willingness to seek help? “Absolutely. Many people avoid treatment because they don’t want a label. A civilian framework allows them to receive help discreetly, without fear of professional consequences. The more accessible the treatment, the more people will seek it.”
How is success measured? “This is not a pilot—it’s the real thing. We are not experimenting on thousands of people. We rely on accumulated professional experience from Israel and the U.S. Success is measured in prevention, availability of care, rehabilitation, and improved quality of life.”
Padan believes the model could also serve civilians coping with trauma. “Sheba is a civilian hospital, and the knowledge gained is relevant to all of Israeli society,” he says, noting that the October 7 massacre has further underscored the need for broad support systems.
At the same time, the organization is working to establish a national resilience center for IDF soldiers and expand support for reservists, recognizing the complex challenges of prolonged service. “It’s important to emphasize that the contribution is not just financial,” he concludes. “It includes oversight, commitment, and long-term responsibility.”
Let Us Know What You Think